Float light



June 7, 1938.

R. J. AND ERSON FLOAT LIGHT Filed Au 13, 1955 Y 2 Sheets-Sheefl fi rfancmzson;

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Junej, 1938. R. .1. ANDERSON FLOAT LIGHT Filed Aug. 13, 1935 2sheets-sheet 2 amen tom Patented June 7, 1938' 5 UNITE 5p;-

PAT

FLOAT LIGHT Application August' 13, 1935, Serial No. 36,032

28 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in float lights which areprimarily for use at sea and adapted to burn fora substantial period oftime.

These float lights are ordinarily released from an aeroplane, generallyin series, and when floating on the water, the aviator is enabled todetermine the direction of the wind on the water, as well asthe winddraft.

These devices may, of course, be put to various other uses either onland or sea.

One objectof this invention resides in the provision of a firing pinassembly and in arranging and locating of the assembly in the upper partof the buoyant housing or casing of the device, whereby the burning isfrom the upper portion of the device downwardly.

Another object is the provision of safety means for retainin'gthe firingpin out of contact with the priming cap until it is desired to utilizethe same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel firing pinassembly including a hollow firing stem providing a passage for gasesand smoke from beneath and past the firing pin.

Another object is the provision of a self aligning firing pin whichtelescopes over the delay train tube, whereby misalignment is avoided.

Another object is the provision of an insulating airspace around thepyrotechnic mixture container,preventing cooling of this mixture fromthe outside air orwater, thereby insuring proper burning, as anyv changein temperature interferes :vith the volume of smoke generated by the mixure.

Still another object is the provision of a stabilizing attachment toinsure a true downward flight of the device and a speedy descentthereof.

Other objects will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

In the present invention the lower part of the housing or body of thedevice is completely sealed and closed against the entering of water andthe firing pin assembly is fitted in the upper portion .of the housingor casing and the firing started in that part of the device.

In the accompanying drawings, one form of the present invention isillustrated, whereinz,--

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the. device as it appears in its downwardflight;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device; 3 is a sectional viewon the line 3-3 of 8- i I. il igi'a. 4 is a sectional view on the line4-4 of Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; Y I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 5-6 of Fig. 2;

' and Fig. '7 is a detail view of the telescoping firing stem and theupper portion of the tubular memher which aids in guiding the firingpin.

The housing or casing comprises an air tight tube or casing l of sheettin, aluminum or any desired material, and has its lower endhermetically sealed by means of a bottom 2 filled with ballast or anydesired weighting material 3. The upper end of the tube 'is sealed bymeans of the cover 4 crimped around the upper edge of the tube I. Saidcover 4 is provided with a central opening in which is mounted part ofthe firing assembly so as to securely close the opening against theentrance of water.

Mounted in the lower portion of the casing l is a tubular member 5 madeof thin sheet material, such as tin, aluminum or the like, or anydesired material, provided with a bottom 6. In this tube 5 is mounted atube 1 of insulating material such as paper, pulp, or the like. Saidtube member I is of smaller diameter than the tube 5, and accordingly isspaced away from the wall of the tube 5 providing an insulating airspace 8. Covering the top of this air space 8, and securely fastened tothe upper edge of the tube 1 and the tube 5, is an annular member 9.

The tube 1 is'loaded or packed for a substantial part of its length withpyrotechnic material [0, preferably a red phosphorous mixture which willburn readily and very brilliantly, and with a very dense smoke. Thispyrotechnic material is of the usual type now in common use.

On top of this pyrotechnic material is placed a celluloid or fusibledisc II. On the celluloid disc II is placed a starter mixture l2 whichmay be of anyof the usual compositions for this purpose, such forexample, as lead peroxide, copper oxide and fusesilicate.

Secured to and mounted on top of the tube i above the annular member 9covering the insulating space 8 and resting on the starter mixture is adished cover or closure i3 provided with "perforations or vent holes il, and a central opening through which is affixed the tubular delay steml8 as hereinafter set forth. The space between the disc II and the coveror closure l3, formsa container or chamber for the starter mixture l2.

On top of the central portion of the cover I3 is placed a thin disc l5of fusible material such The tubular delay stem [8 is loaded or packedwith a. delay mixture l9, such as a meal powder and copper oxide, thatis, a slow burning mixture. Any other slow burning mixture could well beutilized, as desired.

The lower end of the delay stem is reduced and is exteriorlyscrewthreaded, and is passed through the central opening of the cover l6 andthe disc l5 and the cover [3 into the starter chamber or container, andthreaded into a lock nut 2| in the interior of the starter chamber.

Through perforations in opposite sides of this lock nut are passedpieces of black match 22.

Securely mounted on the cover or closure I6 is a tubular member 23preferably of paper, cardboad or other light material but of sufficientri-, gidity to support the top or cover 4 against collapsing or thelike.

Securely attached to the cover 4 on its lower surface in any desiredmanner is a metal disc 24 of substantial thickness and which rests ontop of the tubular member 23.

The delay stem I8 is provided at the upper end thereof on top of thedelay mixture IS in the stem with a primer. cap 25.

Snugly fitting the opening in the cover 4 is the upper portion of thefiring pin assembly. This firing pin assembly comprises a tubular memberI 26 of any desired material, of metal or bakelite,

or the like; the upper portion 21 thereof being enlarged, and the lowerportion of a reduced diameter forming thereby a flange which rests onthe cover 4 of the casing, and having an external screw thread 28,thereon which is screwed through the cover 4, and the heavy disc 24 andthus securely held in position. A

The firing stem 29 is hollow or tubular and is provided along its lengthwith a series of openings 30 through which the burning gases, smoke,etc., pass into the interior of the stem and upwa'rdly and out of theupper end of the firing pin assembly.

This firing stem is slidably guided at its upper part in the tubularmember 21, and held in position so that openings in the member 21 and inthe firing stem for the cotter pin will register, by means of a. pin orprojection 3| which slides in the slot 32 in the lower portion of thetubular member 21. The firing stem 29 is of suf ficient length totelescope over and readily slide on the delay stem [8. Rigidly securedin the interior of the firing stem 29 is a firing pin 33 pcsitionedbetween the openings 30.

A bottle neck head 34 is formed on the upper end of the tubular member21, and on this beaded bottle neck is crimped a cap 35' provided with acentral opening 36. A disc 3'! or celluloid or the like, provided with atiny vent hole 38, rests on upper edge of the member 21 beneath the cap35 after it: is crimped into place.

It is desirable to hold the firing pin 33 out of contact-with the primercap 25, after the cotter pin, hereinafter referred to, has been releasedand untilthe time for the'firing pin to contact with the primer cap,which is usually when the device strikes the water. For this purposethere is provided a small piece of transformer Wire 39,

although any other flexible, easily severed wire or thread may beutilized. This transformer wire 39 is passed through a small hole in thefiring pin 33 and secured therein and upwardly over the bead 34, and isheld in place by means of,

and the lower portion of the bead 34 against the tension of spring 42.This collar or sleeve 40 is of a width suflicient to cover and close theopenings through which ,the cotter pin passes when the cotter pin isreleased, and the collar or sleeve drops under the'tension of the spring42 into engagement with the flange of the tubular member resting on thecover 4. The sleeve in effect at this stage acts as a closure for theopenings 40 and prevents the entrance of water therein when the deviceis dropped into the sea. Pivotally mounted in one end of the cotter pinis a swivel 43. To the other end of the swivel is secured a cord 44,which carries the stabilizing member 45 which in the present instance isshown in the form of a linen tag. A cord 46 is secured to the lastmentioned end of the swivel, and its other end is passed beneath the cap35 and securely held in place thereon when the cap is crimped over thebead.

The upper end of the firing stem 29 is provided with elongated slots 41through which the cot=- ter pin passes. When the retaining cotter pin isin place the upper ends of these slots engaging the cotter pin hold thefiring stem out of firing position away from the primer cap.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from theforegoing, and it will be seen that when the device is dropped from aheight, the cotter pin having been removed, that on impact with thewater, and the device usually descends into the water from eight to tenfeet beneath the surface, the firing stem on impact will shear or breakthe wire 39 and the cap 25 being exploded .-will immediately start theburning of the delay charge I9 in the stem [8, and when this reaches thematerial l2 in the starter con-' tainer chamber, the black match 22 willbe ignited and fire the composition therein. The gases from this burningcomposition will escape through the vent hole in-the covers l3- and IS,the tin foil disc l5 having fused, and up into the tubular member 23 andthrough the openings 30 into the interior of the firing stem 29 and outthrough the celluloid disc 31, beneath the crimped .cap, and this willbe followed by flame and smoke caused by the burning of the compositionand the charge l0 in the tube I.

The celluloid disc of course is fusible and destroyed-by reason of theheat due to the burning operator changes his mind and decides not to'drop the float light after he has withdrawn the cotter pin. Itiwill beseen that if such should occur that all he would have to do would be toreplace the cotter or safety pin as the position or location of thefiring stem is not altered until the support or wire has been broken.

This wire oi string or support acts as a safety device for holding thefiring stem in its upper position, and when the float strikes there is ashearing action which causes a separation of the wire and permits thefiring stem and firing pin to perform its function.

The firing stem is unique in. several ways. It

acts as a carrien for the firing pin and in turn is so cutout andprovided with openings through which the gases escape into the interiorof the firing stem and from thence out through the opening in the cap.when the cotter pin is released the sliding ring drops and closes theopening through which the cotter pin had passed.

Another important feature of this device is that there is provided awater tight container. In

. former devices of this character where the water 15 enters at thebottom and the impact starts the primer, more or less water is bound toenter the burning mixture and this,'of course, is objectionableyand suchobjection it will be readily understood is overcome by the presentdevice.

Another very important feature resides in the provision of an insulatingair space between the mixture containing tube I and the tube 5, wherebythe pyrotechnic mixture contained in said tube is unaffected by anyoutside temperature either of the air or water.

This application is a continuation-in-partof application Serial No.18,653, filed April 27, 1935.

Having thus described my invention, what I 30 Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, and a firingpin assembly mounted in the upper part of the casing, and a stabilizingdevice flexibly connected to the upper part of said firing pin assembly.

2. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, and a firingpin assembly mounted in the upper part of the easing, and a stabilizingdevice flexibly and swivelly connected to the upper part of said firingpin assembly.

3. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, and a firingpin assembly mounted in the upper part of the casing, and a stabilizingdevice flexibly connected to the upper part of the casing.

4. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, and a firingpin assembly mounted 'in the upper part of the casing, and a stabilizingdevice flexibly and swivelly connected to the upper part of the casing.

5. A float light comprising a buoyant casing, a pyrotechnic materialcontainer mounted in the lower part of said casing with its walls spacedfrom the interior walls of the casing. a closure for said container atthe bottom and top thereof, a primer cap, a firing pin assembly mountedin the upper part of said casing, said assembly including a hollowsliding firing stem, a firing pin rigidly secured therein, and means fortem- -65porarily holding said firing pin out of contact cluding a hollowsliding firing stem, a firing pin 75 rigidly secured therein, andseverable means for claim as new and desire to secure by Letters holdingsaid firing pin out of contact with said primer cap.

7. In a float light, a buoyant casing, a pyrotechnic material containermounted in the lower portion-thereof, said container being of smallerdiameter than the casing and having its walls spaced from the walls ofsaid casing to form an insulating chamber, a delay stem containing acharge of delay mixture extending upward from said container, a primingcap on said delay stem and a firing pin assembly comprising a hollowtubular memberfitted in the upper part of the casing, a hollow firingstem mounted to slide in the tubular member and to telescope over thedelay stem, a firing pin rigidly secured in the firing stem above thedelay stem, and openings through the wall of the firing stem to allowthe products of combustion from the pyrotechnic material to pass upwardinto the firing stem and out through the tubular member.

8. A-fioat light comprising a buoyant casing, a tubular member at theupper portion thereof,

member at its upper part, said firing-stem provided with openings intoits interior and a firing pin rigidly secured in said firing stemnormally out of contact with said primer cap.

9. A float light comprising a buoyant casing, a tubular member at theupper portion thereof, a pyrotechnic material container mounted in thelower portion of said body spaced from the walls of said casing to forman insulating chamber for the container, a delay stem mounted on saidcontainer, a primer cap, a hollow firing stem telescoping at its lowerend over the delay stem and slidable in the tubular member at itsupperpart, said firing stem provided with openings into its interior and afiring pin rigidly secured in said firing stem and means for retainingsaid firing pin normally out of contact with said primer cap.

10. In a float light, a buoyant casing having a weighted lower end, apyrotechnic material container mounted in the lower portion of thecasing and spacedfrom the walls of the casing to provide an insulatingair space, a starter chamber, a.

lock nut in said starter chamber provided with a black match, a delaystem engaging the lock nut and extending upward from the starterchamber,

. a primer cap on the top of the delay stem, and a firing pin assemblycomprising a tubular member fitted in the top of the casing, a slidingtubular firing stem, telescoping over the upper end of the delay stemand in the bore of the tubular member, a firing pin rigidly secured inthe'firing stem, and a perforate cap crimped over said tubular member.

11. In a fioat light having the construction defined in claim 7, theprovision of an opening through theside wall of the firing stem belowthe firing pin to'allow the products of combustion from the delay chargeto pass therethrough' and thence back into the firing stem above thefiring pin andout through the tubular member. v

12. In a float light having the construction defined in claim 7, theprovisionof severable means for retaining the firing stem elevated withthe firing pin out of contact with the primer cap.

13. In a float light having the construction defined in claim 10, theprovision of means for re- .a pyrotechnic material container mounted inthe movably retaining the firing stem with the firing pin out of contactwith the primer cap.

14. In a. float light having the construction defined in claim 10, meansfor weighting the lower end of the casing to maintain the float lightupright and a stabilizer device flexibly connected to the upper end ofthe casing.

'15. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, a delay stemextending upward from the lower portion or the casing, a primer cap onthe delay stem, a firing pin assembly mounted in the upper part of thecasing comprising a member in alignment with the delay stem, and afiring stem carrying a firing pin and mounted to telescope both with thesaid member and the delay stem thus to insure rectilinear movement ofthe firing stem and accurate cooperation of the firing pin and primercap.

16. In a float light, a hollow buoyant casing, a charge of inflammablepyrotechnic material in the lower portion of the casing, a delay stemextending upward from the lower portion of the casing, a primer cap onthe delay stem, a firing pin assembly mounted in the upper part of thecasing comprising a hollow tubular member in alignment with the delaystem, and a hollow firing stem carrying a firing pin therein and mountedto telescope. both withthe tubular member and with the delay stem, thusto insure rectilinear movement of the firing stem and accuratecooperation of the firing pin and primer cap.

1'7. A firing pm assembly for a float light, comprising a tubularmember, a sliding firing stem provided with a firing pin mounted in saidtubular member, said stem being provided with openings.

leading intothe interior of the stem, a cap securely fastened on theupper end of said tubular member, and means secured to said sliding stemand to said cap for retaining said sliding stem in inoperative position.

18. In a float light, a buoyant tubular body or casing, a charge ofpyrotechnic material in the lowerpart of said tubular casing, meansforming a starter chamber mounted therein, a delay stem containing acharge of delay mixture secured to said means, a priming cap on theupperend of said delay stem, and a firing pin assembly comprisingahollow tubular member fitted in the upper part of the casing, a hollowsliding firing stem having a firing pin at its lower end and mounted insaid tubular member, said firing stem being provided with an openingthrough its side wall above the firing pin to allow gases, smoke, etc.,to pass from the lower part of the casing through the firing stem andupward through the tubular member and casing, and means for temporarilyretaining the 'firing stem out of contact with the priming cap.

19. A firing pin assembly for a float light com prising a tubular memberwith abore extending therethrough, a hollow firing stem slidably mountedin said bore, and provided withopenings into the interior of said stem,removable means for retaining said stem ininoperative position in saidbore, a cap provided with an opening securely clamped on the upper endof said assembly, and a disk with a small vent hole between said cap andtubular member.

20. A firing pin assembly for a float light, comprising a tubular memberprovided with an enlarged head, afiring stemslidably mounted in saidtubular member, means for retaining said stem in inoperative position insaid tubular member. said stem provided with openings for the passage ofsaid retaining means, a sliding sleeve or ring encircling said headabove said retaining means, said sleeve when the retaining means isremoved adapted to drop and close said openings.

' 21. A firing pin assembly for a float light, comprising a tubularmember provided with an enlarged head, a firing stem slidably mounted insaid tubular member, means for retaining said stem in inoperativeposition in said tubular memopenings.

22. In a float light, a buoyant tubular casifng or body, a charge ofpyrotechnic material in the lower part of said tubular casing, a fusibledisc mounted on said charge, a starter container containing a startercharge, a delay stem secured in said starter container, a charge ofdelay composition in said delay stem, a primer cap in contact with saiddelay charge, and a firing pin assembly comprising a tubular memberfitted in the upper part of the casing, a hollow firing stem carrying afiring pin and having an opening through its side wall adjacent thefiring pin and mounted to slide in the tubular member, and removablemeans for retaining said firing stem out of contact with the primer cap,the said assembly thus presenting a discharge passage for the gases andsmoke from the pyrotechnic material through the firing stem and tubularmember.

23. In a float light, a buoyant casing or body provided with a boreextending therethrough, a charge of pyrotechnic material in said casing,a fusible disc mounted on said charge, means above said disc forming astarter chamber, a charge of starter composition within said chamber, adelay stem opening into said starter chamber, a charge of delaycomposition in said stem, a primer cap in contact with said delaycharge, and means for firing said primer capdue to impact of the casing.

24. A firing pin assembly for a float light, comprising a tubularmember, a hollow sliding firing stem provided with a firing pin mountedin said tubular member, said stem being provided with openings adjacentthe firing pin leading into the interior of the stem, a cap having adischarge opening into the tubular member at its outer end,

and said firing stem having openings through its side wall adjacent thefiring pin into'the bore whereby a passage is formed for gases, smoke,

, etc., irom below the firing pinout through the firing stem and tubularmember.

26.- An-assembly for a float light comprising a tubular member with abore extending therethrough for permitting the discharge of gases,

upper end of the tubular member. a metal cover having a central openingfor permitting maximum discharge of gases, smoke, etc., from the tubularmember when the fusible disk is destroyed, an interlocking means on thecover 01' the tubular member acting to hold the cover securely to thetubular-member with the disk clamped between the cover and the end ofthe tubular member.

27. A firing pin assembly for a float light com prising a tubularmember, a firing stem slidably mounted in said tubular member, aretaining pin acting when inserted transversely through the tubularmember and firing stem to retain said a stem in inoperative position,and a collar surrounding and slidable on the exterior of the tubularmember normally abutting the retaining pin and moved into position tocover the openlugs for the retaining pin when the'retaining pin iswithdrawn.

28. A firing pin assembly for a float light com prising a tubularmember, a firing stem slidably.

mounted in said tubular member, a. retaining pin acting when insertedtransversely through the tubular member and firing stem to retain thesaid stem in inoperative position, a flange on the tubular memberbeneath the retaining pin, a collar surrounding and slidable" on thetubular member and normally held by the retaining pin thereabove, andmeans acting to move the collar toward the flange whereby, when theretaina ing pin is withdrawn, the collar will move into engagement withthe flange and cover the hole from which the retaining pin waswithdrawn.

ROBERT J. ANDERSON.

